Men’s rugby’s Best International Captains – Part One

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Thomas Booth looks at the Best International Captains through the history of the current top ten internationally ranked men’s sides in world rugby. Part one starts with the side ranked ten (Japan), and counts down to the fifth-ranked international team (England). After ruminating on the why’s and wherefores of this article, why not check out […] READ MORE


Welsh rugby unease – Is the party well and truly over?

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Have you ever woken up after a big party wishing you hadn’t drunk so much? You wander bleary-eyed down the stairs. There’s a stale smell of smoke emanating from the cigarette butts in a discarded tumbler on the coffee table. To compound that, the aroma of smoke is intermingling with that of sweat. You have […] READ MORE


AWJ and the cult of the individual

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Just to establish from the outset, this is not an attack on Alun Wyn-Jones (click on the link for Robert Rees’ look at AWJ back in 2020) or his achievements. The Neath and Swansea Osprey has been a tremendous and loyal servant to Wales and Welsh rugby for well over a decade. Whilst he has […] READ MORE


Dan Biggar: a Very Good, or a Great Welsh outside-half?

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Wales will face England at Twickenham on Saturday, February 26. And one of the participants is Wales rugby outside-half Dan Biggar who may well play a big hand in the outcome. This is a match that will go a long way in determining how both country’s Six Nations’ campaigns are perceived. With Dan Biggar the […] READ MORE


Ideas, Identity, and Ideals in Welsh International Rugby

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Now is probably not the best time for intense introspection after a chastening and bruising defeat to Ireland. Especially for those in and around the close inner circle of players and coaches in Welsh International Rugby. Perhaps best if they keep Kipling’s words in mind, “If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat […] READ MORE


The 133rd Test between Celtic neighbours Ireland and Wales

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Ireland and Wales have a storied history that goes back to the 19th century. These two nations have faced each other annually in the Six Nations Tournament. History between Ireland and Wales The Irish and Welsh men’s rugby teams first met on January 28th, 1882 in Lansdowne Road, Dublin. This was the beginning of the […] READ MORE


Wales’ New Captain

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Another step in an illustrious career? Top pro and Wales stalwart Dan Biggar has been given the honour of being Wales’ new captain for this year’s Six Nations. Will it be another step in an illustrious career for this ten from Morriston in Swansea? Regular captain Alun Wyn-Jones is out injured. As are other captaincy […] READ MORE


‘Slammed’ BBC Wales rugby documentary review & rating

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‘Slammed’ is a rugby documentary from BBC Wales that takes a look at the ups and downs of the Welsh men’s international team between 1998 and 2008. There are contributions from big-hitting coaches and players, including Shane Williams, Steve Hansen, Gareth Thomas, Mike Ruddock, Tom Shanklin, and Colin Charvis. LWOS Rugby casts an eye over, […] READ MORE


Vaccine Mandates, French Rugby and the Six Nations

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On Monday evening, 27th of December 2021, Jean Castex announced that there would be an immediate reinstatement of  the “gauges”. In other words restrictions to the number of people who can gather in a crowd for recreational purposes. This of course affects rugby and sport in general. Within that evening’s announcements was the bombshell vaccine […] READ MORE


Welsh rugby’s winners and losers in 2021

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Welsh rugby’s winners and losers in 2021 Who are Welsh rugby’s winners and losers in 2021? Plus, what were some of the standout moments of the year? Wales triumphed in this year’s Six Nations, but did it have a bit of a ‘meh’ feel given the lack of crowds, and the somewhat fortunate nature of […] READ MORE